Thursday, January 30, 2014

Yes, you will notice that this painting is shown as a print. IT DID exist as is at one time, but it was a beginning for a possible nursery painting for my grandson Ethan. When I was painting it, I sort of loved it in it's aspen"y" state, so I took a photograph as it was before I added baby bears to it. I thought it would be a nice print, thus putting it in my FINE ART AMERICA shop. Kinda different, but kinda cool to have two paintings in one!! FUN!

SO, I painted this 12"x25" cradled piece for my grandson's nursery...IF mom and dad see it and decide it is what they want...They had originally mentioned some of the animals like I did for my grandson Paxton, but I wanted to play with this idea first. It is totally ok with me if they still want baby animal prints like I did for Paxton, but I thought of their nursery colors and just had to try...I'm waiting to hear back on which theme they want to go with. Here is the final product with the baby bears...it's a toss up to me...a fun bit of bear"y" hijinks I'll give it that!

For now I'm calling it Ethan's Bears...but if it doesn't go to live with them, I'm sure I can come up with a new title...Below are some detail shots...the sun went away, so you will notice some definite color change, and some reflections from my camera...but you get the idea!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

This little baby is just perched and waiting to hop home to that perfect
little spot in your house! Baby O is painted in oil on a 4"x4" 3/4"
deep cradle that is stained a lovely brown to compliment! He is ready
to hang as is or, his unique depth allows for sitting on top of a shelf
or even another painting! Baby O can also be framed, but remember about
1/2" is taken on all sides. Baby O will be ready to ship February 1,
2014 when he is dry!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

I'm not sure one can be an owl without having wide eyes, but this little
guy just kept looking at me with his little wide eyes, thus his name!
"Wide Eyes" is painted in oil on a textured 3/4" DEEP CRADLED PANEL.
The sides are stained a wonderful brown that compliments. The unique
depth allows for a few choices. Wide Eyes can hang as is, he can be
framed; remember though that framing takes about 1/2" on each side
unless you put him in a floater frame, he can also sit on a shelf; even
on top of another painting as is shown in the example! Lots of choices
for display! "Wide Eyes" will be ready to ship on February 1, 2014 when
he is dry.

Monday, January 27, 2014

"Dimples" has quite a sunny personality; although you may not see it at
first. Her dimples imply the happy girl underneath all that bravado!
But, regardless, look at those beautiful eyes she has! Dimples is
painted on a textured cradled panel that has black painted sides. She
is perfect to hang as is in that spot where you can see her and smile,
or sit on a shelf or an easel. She can even be framed! "Dimples" is
traveling to my gallery in Conifer, but if you don't live near enough to
visit Luna's Mandala in person, just let me know and I'll gather her up
and ship her to you!

NOW, as artists I'm sure you have some life lessons you have learned in the process of finding locations for your work; the in's and outs of life in galleries and other types of venues. HERE IS MY LATEST STORY. I'm only bringing it up so we call all learn better lessons TOGETHER...perhaps it can save someone out there some frustration and loss of time and energy. I DO NOT hold bad thoughts for the owner of this business; the latest venue where I had my work, HOWEVER, I've learned some lessons.

The first thing I did wrong was to NOT insist on a copy of my signed contract up front! My personality is so trusting at first, so I believed her that she did not have a copy machine and that she would e-mail it to me A.S.A.P. The second thing I did wrong was to NOT be more clear in my insistence that I get an inventory of sales in a timely manner.

At first, it seemed to be going well. This was a venue where I rented a space and was able to change things out as I saw fit. I LOVED THAT part. I signed a 3 month contract to see how things would go in a mixed venue as it was. I sold a painting within a couple of weeks...YAY. I also put jewelry and up-cycled furniture in my space to try to fit a variety of needs in the area. My first niggle of doubt came when the owner asked for rent for the next month...hmmm...I had been told they would take rent out of sales...hmmm...SO, I asked, and she said "Oh yes, no worries". My second seed of confusion was when she asked me why I had not signed off on inventory sheets. WHAT INVENTORY SHEETS I asked...I've been waiting for them...Thus my first strong request...5 weeks after signing the contract I'm now asking for the copy of the contract AND the inventory of sales in December...I got many excuses...but no results despite more than half a dozen requests for the documents.

MORE concern came when she told me she'd lost her backer and did I know anyone with $100,000 to invest? Um...a, NO...I didn't. NEXT was two different stories of her bad financial past...conflicting stories...made me a bit concerned. NEXT came the request that we could all "roll our profits" to cover rent two months in advance...and that would be better for "us". and, the final straw was the day before we were to receive our checks she said her business account had been hacked so checks would be late. That could have been true, but the timing on top of the other was suspect...and my trust was broken at that point, so it is NEVER wise to stay when there is no trust!

I'm still not getting invoices, and now I'm getting statements that infer that I am ignoring them...hmmm...SO, many red flags caused me to pull out a few weeks early. When I went to take my things out, she gave me a lecture and told me how disappointed she was in me...I felt it best to be nice and just pack up and go. I gave her a check to honor my part of the rest of my contract as that felt right to me regardless of the broken parts on their part of the contract, and left... EXHAUSTING! Mentally...it felt like they were priming us to get December monies and then leave in the night...I drove by more often than I would have; checking for a truck out front! HA. PHYSICALLY because I had to take out a LOT of stuff and get home to finish work. EMOTIONALLY as it felt like I had been treated badly and I didn't feel it was anything I had done.

LESSON: a good idea to get the financials of a business before you invest your hard work in it. BE CAREFUL of new businesses...she is new to the mountain area as well as a new business person...GET REFERENCES...IF they haven't been established you would be wise...SO...hopefully this will help anyone out there from having the stressful experience I did. ONWARD AND UPWARD!!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

This sweet little bell hangs at the bottom of silver, red and pearlesque
beads. It's 16" length makes it a perfect length for just about any
neckline! The little bell is apx. 1/2" tall. It has a circle and bar
closure with a little bead detail hanging in the back...a classy little
detail for sure! "Bell Necklace" is part of my JUST FOR FUN series. (Just for Fun means it doesn't have expensive beads, thus making it affordable, but the workmanship is quality!)
The red makes it perfect for a Valentines Day gift! Packaged in a net
bag for perfect gift giving!

Just in time for Valentines Day, this heart is sprinkled with red and
gold beads; the color of love and passion...with a little sparkle thrown
in for good measure! This is part of my "Just for Fun" series of
jewelry. This necklace has a 21" chain with 1" heart pendant. Comes in a net bag.

Another "just for fun" necklace for those fun fashion days! Nothing too
fancy, just some pearlesque, leaf, and wood beads attached to a 20"
up-cycled chain. This neutral color scheme makes this a perfect choice
for any outfit!

AND, SOLD ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WAS...

RED AND WHITE CROSS NECKLACE

NO, I'm not moving totally into the jewelry business...HOWEVER, I find that expressing creativity in a variety of ways spices up those creative sparks for adding to my true passion; painting! and, just like this series is aptly named...it is JUST FOR FUN!!

Monday, January 20, 2014

Just dreaming of spring and those wonderful poppies that sprinkle our
landscape with color! This mixed media painting is created on cradled
panel with slightly distressed white sides. Paper and oil grace the
support in a strong contrast of color! Perfect for hanging as is, or,
it's unique depth also allows it to sit on a shelf or mantle!

Another "just for fun" necklace for those fun fashion days! Nothing too
fancy, just some pearlesque, leaf, and wood beads attached to a 20"
up-cycled chain. This neutral color scheme makes this a perfect choice
for any outfit!

I don't know about you, but I always have a little bit of a painting slow down after the crazy pace of the holidays, HOWEVER, I do NOT like to just sit, so while my brain is working it's creative magic (hopefully), I like to play in other mediums...Lately I've been playing at my jewelry making. I don't claim to be a master at it...I just like to have fun; thus the name of this line is "Just For Fun"!

I am so inspired to paint poppies again, so stay tuned for the newest addition!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

What a difference a frame makes! I enjoy doing these 5"x7" paintings and mounting them (permanently) in these fun wooden frames with trim surrounding the painting. This frame is slightly distressed...FUN DOINS! You can see the profile where the wood molding is surrounding "Bunny Face". When I frame like this the painting is glued in...so, I say ya gotta love the whole package, because it just isn't coming out! That is why I take great care in make sure the frame works with the piece first!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Just a little peek at the finished "Bunny Face". This sweetie will evantually have her own frame and be put in my ETSY shop...that is UNLESS you fall in love with her now and choose to buy her to love and adore without delay!

"Bunny Face" is painted in oil on a slightly textured canvas panel. She will be available to ship on or about January 16, 2014 when she is dry!

IF she stays with me, stay tuned for the finished frame. I put these together so it takes a day or two! FUN DOINS!

Who doesn't love the gentle bear called Pooh that we have all grown up
with. This "Vintage Pooh Bear" is a stuffed bear made after the
original Winnie the Pooh. I find him softer and gentler in look to go
with his sweet soft nature. "Vintage Pooh Bear" is painted in oil over a
slightly textured 4x4" panel with black painted sides. He can sit on a
shelf or small easel as is, or, for just .50 more I can mount him on
either a black 5"x5" or an off white backer board so he can be framed in
a 5x5" frame so all his precious little sides still show. REMEMBER, if
you decide to frame him in a 4x4" frame about 1/2" of each side is
taken up with the lip. Frames are not included, but you can find frames
at Michaels or on ETSY at Rustic and Refined Design.
"Vintage Pooh Bear" will be ready to ship on January 14, 2014 when he is
good and dry!

Monday, January 6, 2014

Sweet as can be, this little baby is ready to come home to sit on a
shelf or hang for you! Just look at the sweet smile and gentle nature
of this baby giraffe! "Sweetness" is 4x4" oil on textured panel with
black painted sides. She can sit on an easel as is, or can be framed.
(Remember a 4x4" frame takes off each side). For just .50 more you can
choose either a black backer board mounting or an off white in a 5x5"
size. This allows you to frame her with all sides showing in a 5x5"
frame. Frames not included, but you can find the black one at Michaels
and the off white right here on ETSY at Rustic and Refined Design!
"Sweetness" will be ready to ship on January 13, 2014 when she is fully
dry!

WOW, has this new year been a challenge with computers for this household! We were down, and through much consternation we found out there were several problems...one being an animal chewed through the cable...and NOW, after downloading a new browser; Firefox I had trouble signing in...after about an hour I FINALLY found a place where I had to eliminate all the cookies that had been attached...I went to add the Fern Chest to my website and it wouldn't let me until I downloaded Java AGAIN...WHICH I think messed up my cookies...MAN OH MAN...it's enough to make a girl want to throw in the towel! Technology can be a good thing, but in the past two months here; NOT being an expert, it has cost me seemingly countless hours troubleshooting; WHICH takes away from creative time!! SIGH...I do not see a solution at this time, but to jump through every hoop Google, Explorer and now Firefox puts in my way...Here's hoping I can NOW paint more than I troubleshoot!!

Friday, January 3, 2014

After about 10 days of no upload capabilities I am FINALLY able to post photos again. A trip to my computer expert, a new router, and we discovered our cable had been chewed on by an animal! WHEW! BUT, we are now back up and running, with more power and all new equipment! YAY!

Christmas found us in Nebraska with my beautiful daughter and family. Seeing Paxton was a joy as always. This little guy is now making his wishes known with sentences! "I love you Nana" is my favorite for sure! He is truly a wonder...the A,B,C's are still his favorite subject, but he also LOVED his new tent that his Nana and Grandpa Jerry made him...a great time! Only bittersweet in that I didn't get to see my son as well...sigh...What a life where family is all over these United States! SIGH!

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Michelle made her first...and I might add the BEST Prime Rib I've ever had! You go Michelle!!!